Topic: Nature

Friday Harbor Labs Tide Bites

Written on January 19, 2021 at 5:00 am, by

Sea Otter Disturbance By Dr. Tiff Stephens In the summer of 2017, I traveled to Friday Harbor Labs for one of my usual short visits of reconnecting with resident scientists and diving into the waters to see how the seaweed communities have changed at favored sites (Reuben Tarte, Cattle Point, Deadman Bay). I also traveled  Continue Reading

Join Virtual Land Bank Meeting

Written on January 14, 2021 at 5:00 am, by

From San Juan County Land Bank The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting on Friday, Jan. 15, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., via Zoom. The public is invited to attend. Click here to download the agenda, Zoom link and meeting materials. The San Juan County Land Bank is a local land conservation  Continue Reading

Donate to Friends of the San Juans During $100K Match

Written on December 15, 2020 at 4:30 am, by

By Friends of the San Juans This year has been life-changing for all of us to varying degrees. In early March, the message from Friends of the San Juans was one of changing times, as directives unfolded with caution and deliberation. Those same feelings continue to unfold in a variety of ways. Yet today, we  Continue Reading

Seasonal Closure of 4th of July Beach Parking

Written on November 1, 2020 at 5:00 am, by

By San Juan Island National Historical Park San Juan Island National Historical Park announces its seasonal closure of the 4th of July Beach parking area effective, Sunday, Nov. 1. The closing of the parking area is an annual event to prevent damage to the area due to high rainfall, poor drainage, and heavy vehicle use.  Continue Reading

Zylstra Lake: Fall Trail Times 2020

Written on October 29, 2020 at 5:45 am, by

Thanks to the cooperation of the Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust we now have a beautiful new and historic public land to explore. On September 26th, National Public Lands Day, 5 years of negotiations and planning came to fruition when the 285-acre Zylstra Lake Preserve on San Juan Island officially opened part  Continue Reading

WSU Extension Offers Online Horticulture Training

Written on October 26, 2020 at 5:00 am, by

By WSU Extension Learn to be a better home gardener and steward of the environment this winter with Washington State University San Juan County Extension’s new online Home Horticulture Training program. Training focuses on a wide range of horticulture topics taught online by WSU faculty, staff, Master Gardeners and other regional experts on Saturday mornings  Continue Reading

Salmon Habitat Restored on Sucia Island

Written on October 2, 2020 at 5:50 am, by

Almost seven years ago, Friends of the San Juans began working with Washington State Parks on a salmon recovery project on Sucia Island. After a lot of research, surveys, designs, engineering, and permitting, the on-the-ground work to restore habitat has come to fruition. Located along a major migratory pathway for juvenile Chinook salmon, Sucia’s marine  Continue Reading

Sunrise at Boundary Pass

Written on September 5, 2020 at 4:50 pm, by

Thanks to John Miller for capturing this sunrise image… click to enlarge photo…

Trail Times: Old Military Road Trail – An Illustrated Guide

Written on September 4, 2020 at 12:21 pm, by

Robin Donnelly for the Old Military Road Trail Committee… What a great time to be exploring our trails. Covid seems to have made us all more aware of the healing power of nature and our fortunate ability to be part of it. As summer is waning, fall colors are taking over for the vibrancy of  Continue Reading

Applications Being Accepted for Grants to Conserve Forests

Written on August 31, 2020 at 1:11 pm, by

OLYMPIA–On Sept.1, eligible organizations may begin applying for grants to conserve community forests, the Recreation and Conservation Office announced today. The new state Community Forests Program will offer grants of up to $3 million. But organizations need to hurry. Applications are due Oct. 1. The grants must be used to buy at least 5 acres  Continue Reading

Islanders For The San Juan Islands National Monument Meet Via Zoom August 27

Written on August 25, 2020 at 7:00 pm, by

Join the MAC Meeting on August 27, 9:00am -5:00pm, Pacific Time (see Zoom link below)… Click on photo to enlarge… The MAC (Monument Advisory Committee) will be hearing from subject matter experts and the public to inform their deliberations as they discuss and present their input to the BLM. The full meeting agenda (PDF) can  Continue Reading

Rainbow Reflection in Friday Harbor

Written on August 22, 2020 at 2:35 pm, by

Many thanks to Liz Smith for this magical photo of Friday Harbor…

The Wild Charley River (part I)

Written on August 20, 2020 at 2:14 pm, by

FREEZER BURNED: Tales of Interior Alaska is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Steve Ulvi…  The plane lifted off the state runway in Eagle on dense morning air on another bluebird July day. The drowsy sprawl of town and sweep of the Yukon River receded under the right wing as we climbed  Continue Reading

End of Summer Porch Light Bug Count Seeks Citizen Participants

Written on August 19, 2020 at 5:21 pm, by

Bug Count hosted by Bugs of the San Juans… Activity for Islanders! End of Summer Porch Light Bug Count! August 20 at 12 PM – August 31 at 3 PM   So, I’ve been checking out what insects show up at our porch light around 10:00 pm and took a short video clip last night after  Continue Reading

Friday Harbor Film Festival Virtual Cinema Presents Public Trust August 19-23

Written on August 15, 2020 at 5:05 am, by

Friday Harbor Film Festival’s Summer 2020 Virtual Cinema will present a FREE virtual on-demand screening of Public Trust, produced by Patagonia Films, on August 19 through 23, followed by a hosted audience discussion on August 23 at 6 pm PDT.   To view the film anytime on the specified dates and participate in the webinar, RSVP  Continue Reading

Zylstra Lake Preserve – Open for Public Comment

Written on August 11, 2020 at 2:45 pm, by

San Juan County Land Bank is seeking public input on its updated Interim Stewardship and Management Plan (SMP) for the Zylstra Lake Preserve on San Juan Island. This updated interim plan details the Preserve’s abundant wildlife and habitat areas; provides a collaborative strategy for engaging with agricultural interests; and proposes opening approximately two miles of trail this  Continue Reading

Record $5.2 Million Gift Expands Turtleback Preserve

Written on July 31, 2020 at 1:03 pm, by

Great news from San Juan Preservation Trust! Record gift expends Turtleback Preserve plus the precedent-setting donation also returns land to the Lummi Nation. The San Juan County Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust today announced the acquisition and permanent conservation of a 36-acre addition to the Turtleback Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island. Concurrently, an  Continue Reading

State Launches New Grant Program to Conserve Community Forests

Written on July 30, 2020 at 5:30 am, by

OLYMPIA–Communities wanting to conserve forestlands now have a state grant program to help, the Recreation and Conservation Office announced today. Beginning September 1, communities can apply for grants of up to $3 million in the newly created Community Forests Program. The grants must be used to buy at least 5 acres of forestland and the  Continue Reading

Feeling Crabby?

Written on July 28, 2020 at 5:45 am, by

Giant crab joins giant bear at San Juan Islands Sculpture Park Thanks to a loan by Cattle Point Rock & Topsoil, “Rusty” the giant crab, now has a temporary home near the bay at the Sculpture Park.  “Rusty” is the work of artist Zackarya Leck, on Orcas Island.  Come see them both along with 150  Continue Reading

Public Asked to Check Trees for Invasive Species in August

Written on July 27, 2020 at 7:50 pm, by

Olympia—Throughout August, the Washington Invasive Species Council and the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are asking the public to take 10 minutes to check trees in their communities for invasive insects. August is the peak time of year that wood-boring insects are most often spotted outside of trees. “State and federal agencies do a  Continue Reading

New Artworks Appear On The Forest Path At Roche Harbor Sculpture Park

Written on July 27, 2020 at 6:15 am, by

If you visit the Sculpture Park at Roche Harbor on a warm summer day you may feel drawn toward the shade of the forest path. Should you venture into the wooded path you may find some surprises. Island artists Anita Barreca and Francie Hansen joined by others including Beth Spadafora and Jason Munkres have adorned  Continue Reading

In the Mailbag

Written on July 20, 2020 at 3:53 pm, by

In the San Juan Update mailbag this afternoon we have this letter from Tanja at the Land Bank… Hello San Juan Update! I’ve been posting our weekly “nature notes” on our facebook and Instagram accounts since April, and today’s posting features a pilot project to help the Island Marble butterfly thrive. I think it’s a  Continue Reading